Vonta Leach could still end up with the Ravens

When the Ravens cut fullback Vonta Leach in May, it appeared to be the end of his two-year run in Baltimore. But that may not be the case.

The Baltimore Sun reports that the Ravens are still quietly monitoring Leach in free agency. So it’s still possible that the Ravens — who were interested in keeping Leach if he would agree to a pay cut — may end up bringing him back, if he finds out that no other team is willing to give the kind of contract he was hoping for when he rejected the Ravens’ offer.

From the moment he was released, Leach appeared to be headed either for Miami, where he already knows the system thanks to his ties to offensive coordinator Mike Sherman, or Houston, where he played for five seasons before signing with the Ravens in 2011. But the Dolphins reportedly wanted to get a deal done with Leach last week if they were going to do it at all, and the Texans don’t have a lot of salary cap space to spare.

Leach has said he wants to get a deal done by the end of June. If there’s not a better deal out there than the one he walked away from in Baltimore, then he may end up returning to the place where he’s been a first-team All-Pro the last two years.

Hard to leave the best organization in the NFL, even for more money. Ravens are a championship team and will dominate for many years to come. Baltimore has the best QB, the best RBs, the best WRs, and the best defense. Who doesn’t want to be part of that winning combination?

Mickey Mouse franchise. In DC/MD/VA, the Washington Redskins are THE only team that is recgonized. The Ravens, aka, the team Peter Angelos tells what to do, are in the DC United/Bowie Baysox/Lacrosse tier. The freaking Wizards get more coverage. #TheRedskinswearthePANTSinMD

Joemontanaflacco says:
Jun 23, 2013 9:10 PM
Hard to leave the best organization in the NFL, even for more money. Ravens are a championship team and will dominate for many years to come. Baltimore has the best QB, the best RBs, the best WRs, and the best defense. Who doesn’t want to be part of that winning combination?
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I have a feeling you are going to be slightly depressed by week 8. Your team lost a ton of starters and they are handcuffed for years to come because of Flaco’s deal. The only good news is that the division will be weaker this year.

The raven have a middle if the pack QB, not the best, they have 1 of the best RB tandems, they don’t have a #1 quality receiver…never mind having the best WRs, and the def is an average bunch, lucky if they break top 10. Ravens time is running low, Bengals have a better upside right now.

japmen says:Jun 23, 2013 9:40 PM

Im surprised the team with the best offense and defense in the league took so long just to win another SB. They must be some mighty big underachievers.

Pitt has more SBs in the past decade and they don’t seem to dominate. Pats are the winningest team of the past decade and haven’t won a single SB since they were caught cheating. If only it was as easy as you think it is. You must have watched another team while they struggled during the mid season? Didn’t seem to win 13-14 games either.

Are you sure you understand what dominant really means? Or many years to come by chance?

And behapman2011, the Ravens are not and will not be handcuffed by the Flacco deal. The 2013 cap hit is not prohibitive and did not cause any of the other player releases. And like every other big contract that players sign these days, it will be renegotiated long before it does create a huge cap issue. And while the Ravens lost a ton of starters on Defense, they were middle of the road anyway in 2012, so they got younger and accumulated more talent. They now have much more upside.

ravens will not be in the 2014 post season year after year they have with veteran d and that’s long gone and Joe flacid has no boldin to bail that ass out Cincinnati will surpass them for the next two then the browns its gonna hurt

hey logical…why does a dc team play in maryland anyway. and you can pop off again after the skins are actually relevant again. which wont happen as long as snyder is in charge. and if you were to actually look at flacco’s salary cap numbers you would realize that his contract isnt restricting the ravens from doing anything. leach was scheduled to make 4 million as a part time player. not worth it. ravens operate under right player right price

mackcarrington says:Jun 23, 2013 10:35 PM

Leach didn’t “leave” the Ravens because he wanted more money. He was cut because he wouldn’t take LESS money.

I see some heads exploding in Baltimore. First the talk is no way will the Ravens get rid of Leach. Then when it was determined they couldn’t afford him so the fans are saying they don’t need him as they have some one on the roster younger and better. Now there is talk of bringing Leach back.

vincentbojackson says:Jun 23, 2013 11:14 PM

Problem is, not many teams still have an offense that uses a traditional fullback. Teams using a version of the spread typically prefer using a tight end in situations requiring a lead blocker or extra pass protector in the backfield. In today’s pass happy game you get more versatility out of keeping an extra tight end than tying up a spot with a fullback.

I cannot wait until the 2013 season starts so I can stop hearing about how terrible the Ravens will be solely because they “lost a bunch of starters.” Losing them is not the same as releasing them. We “lost” Kruger (upgraded by Dumervil), Cary Williams (upgraded with Webb), Ellerbe (backed up McClain who will return) And Reed (replaced by a cheaper and younger Elam). Ray and Birk retired. If they were so great at their age why retire? Easy- Birk was losing his edge and getting walked all over (replaced by Gradkowski in his 2nd year) and Ray had without a doubt lost a step and some physicality. He’ll be replaced by rookie Art Brown who will prove to be better in pass coverage as he can actually keep up with receivers. And Boldin was traded not “lost.” And for those who say we did it for money? Stupid. Let me put it this way- if we kept Q we would never have been able to afford Dumervil. Personally I’d rather have a younger superior talent at his position locked up longer than an aged WR with 1 year left under contract. And Leach got replaced by Juice plain and simple. Better in the passing game and just as physical. So please someone give me some logic as to why the Ravens will be so terrible next year? d is younger and faster. Hits just as hard. Offense is only missing 3 players, one of which had a measly 4 TD’s all season until playoffs and another who only came in for less than half of the running plays. Where’s the loss? Leadership? You think Suggs and Ngata aren’t leaders? Rice? Flacco? Come on folks. I get being homers and haters but don’t be trolls.

brucealmty says:Jun 23, 2013 11:43 PM

Redskins were interesting to watch last year, but they are still a 7-9 team at best.

Ray Rice should give up half of his check just to keep Vonta around. Rice is half the player without Vonta taking out the first hit and primary gap stopper. Not to mention the fact that Vonta knows the scheme and can pick up the blitz for Flacco.

People always get mad a player and call them greedy for holding out becuz they want more money becuz they out payed their contract.Now u same people that say that he should play out his contract like a man becuz he sign the contract.Now what about Leach? He was playing out his contract, but the cut him becuz he wouldn’t take less money after they had a deal!Ha ha.Business! It goes both ways!Any comments?

The only coverage the Redskins receive is everything and anything about RGIII… Not the actual team. What a shame it is if you actually think the Washington Redskins is Maryland’s team. Maybe if they made a name for themselves and became a powerhouse football team that is in playoff contention year in and year out, you could consider, but the fact that the Redskins haven’t put together back to back winning seasons in almost 20 years makes me laugh. The Ravens actually look to have a great defense this year. It’s a lot more solid than most people think and it is full of playmakers. The Bengals were considered to win the North last year,… and they didn’t. But I guess time will tell. The football world just needs to accept the fact that the Ravens are a good football team and will probably be successful in 2013.

Ravens are younger and more evenly talented then last year. They reload and stay in contention and get players at the right price. Why is it so hard for people just except that? Should be a great season…

ppdoc13 says:Jun 24, 2013 1:51 AM

The red skins? They have trouble with their name let alone playing football I January.

Btw – the ravens and steelers have the same number of Lombardi trophies since y2k.

Finally, for those of you who don’t know how the ravens do it and would like yo know how they manage to stay relevant over the long term as opposed to say the team that plays on landover, pays MD taxes and is politically incorrect: Ozzie has. 2 major rules that he rarely breaks

1. Place a value on a player and don’t exceed it. Then let them go test the market. When they find out that their value is not what they thought, he will let th take their prior offer assuming they didn’t burn all their bridges such as Ed hartwell. A good example was ray on his last contract he tried to sell himself to a number of teams but no one was buying 34 year old mlbs for the money he wanted. They let him come back at their price and said all the right things about how they really didn’t want him to leave, but if NE OR DALLAS offered him more he’d a been gone as would hos second SB ring

2. Ozzie would rather get rid of someone a year too early than a year too late with exceptions for people like JO or Lewis. He would have kept Ed teed to allow him to retire here but not for nearly Houston paid and he is already hurt and surgerized and training camp hasn’t even started. Good examples would be Ed hartwell, Anthony weaver, dean Edwards and Maake Keeomatu. Not that they were all busts but none of them played to their level as a raven and they were replaced with younger less expensive guys.

That is how our front office works. Taking notes “logical?” Maybe you can talk to the Danny and give him a few lessons

The Washington team and it’s fans are pathetic. They extol the virtue of city life yet most live in southern Maryland, Frederick etc. They state how they own the state yet haven’t won a title in 21 years. They have a racist nickname created by a bigoted former owner. Synder tries to buy championships like he did in 2000 and with Haynesworth and then finds himself in cap hell.
Yes admired and well loved-pathetic! GO GIANTS!

i10east says:Jun 24, 2013 5:24 AM

Out of the 31 cities to live in, that crime ridden hellhole Baltimore would be my dead last, no question. Talk about a miserable place! That’s why Carolina and Jacksonville got the expansion teams and not Baltimore. Go Jags!!!#TheWire

The Redskins? Who talking about them? The most confused team in the NFL!! Named after the nation’s capital, HQ’d in Ashburn, VA, play games in Landover, MD, and now conduct training camp in Richmond, VA. The owner and coach have the Napoleon syndrome! Develop into a competent organization and put a competititve team on the field year in and year out, then we can talk. Otherwise logicalvoicesays, chill!

I’m impressed and surprised that the NFL still recognizes the position of ‘fullback’ for All-Pro designation – its like a throwback. But reminds us all of that ever blurring aspect of the game – the ‘running game’.

As for Baltimore – they should be renamed the ‘Colts’ and Indy forced to find a more suitable moniker.

I don’t care for the Ravens one bit but its tough to argue with a franchise that has 2 Lombardi’s….only time will tell how the off-season dealings impact 2013.

Joemontanaflacco says:Jun 24, 2013 8:18 AM

I’m sure that if the fan base ran the FO like it does in Pittsburgh, Leach would end up getting overpaid so fans could buy more jerseys. But Baltimore’s game plan has always been focused on building the best team for that particular year and, given Flacco’s suburb playoff history, the plan works. If Leach stays, he’ll contribute to another winning season. If he goes, next man up will be a beast.

Hey chapman you brain-dead moron the ravens are not handicapped by flaccos contract. He is only about 7 million against the cap This year and 12 or so next year. Still being paid less than half of the quarterbacks in the league. It’s not until the fourth year that the cap hit us 28 million at which time they will renegotiate. So unless you know what you’re talking about you brain-dead dolt stop commenting on this website.

Hey crown of the helmet again your brain dead dolt. Passing ineptness? Did you see the playoff run and after week eight Flacco had a 18 to 2 td to int ratio. Pretty good. It wasn’t a small sample in over half the season he through 18 touchdowns to just two interceptions. So again you brain-dead moron stop commenting on the site

Joemontanaflacco says:Jun 24, 2013 8:56 AM

Before you jump all over my typo, Crown — I meant SUPERB playoff history.

anonymousraven1 says:Jun 24, 2013 9:22 AM

I’m not even sure I want Leach back as a Ravens fan … Just like Brees and Rivers (for a few years at least) before him, now that Flacco is rid of Cam, it is his time to shine. If Leach comes back for uber-cheap I suppose he can’t hurt but Juice seems like he’s going to be a real weapon in the passing game.

I’m sure that if the fan base ran the FO like it does in Pittsburgh, Leach would end up getting overpaid so fans could buy more jerseys. But Baltimore’s game plan has always been focused on building the best team for that particular year and, given Flacco’s suburb playoff history, the plan works. If Leach stays, he’ll contribute to another winning season. If he goes, next man up will be a beast.

The next man up is a rookie….not much pressure to replace a great all pro…not much at all. Reality can be cruel.

ColtsWinColtsWin!! says:Jun 24, 2013 10:01 AM

The Baltimorgue Ravens are a terrible franchise. I can not see why anyone would want to play there. I would play in a nice city, like Indianapolis, for instance.

The steelers have more Super Bowls in this decade ? Guess that’s the new math that continues to make Pittsburgh fans the laughing stock of the league

The steelers have won the same number of Super Bowls in the last 30
Years that the ravens have won …2. That is an entire generation.

Memo to steeler fan: Your team is no longer comprised of terry Bradshaw and Franco Harris. Steel is no longer king, and coal is out.

Welcome to the 21st century.

I guess you haven’t learned to count to forty yet or your cutoff at thirty years was for arguments sake, but if you count six Lombardi’s stills beats two. Work with the little numbers first then you can build up to forty. The arrogance of the bandwagon raven fans continues to make you the laughing stock of the league.

ravenmuscle says:Jun 24, 2013 10:18 AM

Funny how the Raven “haters” almost always use a posting name that doesn’t indicate which team they are a fan of.

About all those players we LOST. Reed is OLD and SLOW and was a weak link last year. Pollard was a huge liability in pass coverage. Ray was definitely a liability and was finished. Kruger got a boatload of money from Cleveland after having seven good games in just this last year. Ellerbe was grossly overpaid by Miami…just watch what he does this year. Ozzie knows who to pay money to and who to let walk. “Right player…right price” has worked beautifully.

Lastly….Leach was offered a contract that “with incentives ” would equal what he would have gotten under his old contract that called for him getting $3 million this year. If Houston .. Miami… and the Giants are all offering him a veteran one year minimum…why shouldn’t he come back?

Boldin bailed Flacco out with his under 1000 yards receiving and 4 TD passes over 16 games (15, actually since the starters were rested against Cincy). The way the Ravens haters talk about Boldin, you’d have thought he was Calvin Johnson.

more insightful commentary from mr class himself. thanks to nofool for checking in. and talk about arrogance…did you read your last post. so if the ravens are a laughinstock then what does that make a team that got tebowed and missed the playoffs completely the last 2 years. smh and lol

ESPX and CBX think that the Ravens are overrated.
Joe Flacco especially, only was lucky to win this offseason. He holds the record for road playoff wins, he has won a tough AFC North multiple times. He has done this 5 years, ever since starting as a rookie. But yeah..he had one lucky season.

Thankfully Superbowl Hungry Veterans like Canty, Spears, Dumervil, Leach, Huff, etc know who is really overrated. That is why they sign for the Ravens for a discount.

Joemontanaflacco says:Jun 24, 2013 12:53 PM

I think we can all agree that SB wins prior to 1982 are not relevant for assessing a team’s quality. Additionally, if having a rookie like Juszczyk step in for Leach constitutes cruelty, then Shamarko Thomas and Jarvis Jones are in for a world of hurt.

ctgiant says:Jun 24, 2013 12:55 PM

If the giants interst is “real” with “hyno” going on the PUP list in Sept. Reese will find a way to sign Leach, he is simply the best of the best, all-pro 3 years and running strong as a bull, 6’2 260 pure machine.
CT GIANT
no spell check

scoobies05 | Jun 24, 2013, 11:59 AM EDT
more insightful commentary from mr class himself. thanks to nofool for checking in. and talk about arrogance…did you read your last post. so if the ravens are a laughinstock then what does that make a team that got tebowed and missed the playoffs completely the last 2 years. smh and lol
So you consider yourself a bandwagon fan scoobie? Wasn’t talking about you die hard fans just the ones who joined in feb. listen it took you five try’s to getto the Super Bowl not exactly blowing people away.we still have been to three SB since 2000 don’t forget….

crownofthehelmet says:Jun 24, 2013 1:20 PM

Joemontanaflacco says:

I think we can all agree that SB wins prior to 1982 are not relevant for assessing a team’s quality.
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I actually agree with you – everything but the year. If you’re talking about a team’s present quality, I think you’re 20 years early. 2002 would be more accurate than 82.

hardly a bandwagon fan..you know better than that. and yes…much like ravens fans love to talk about our 2 rings, steeler fans love talking about their team’s accomplishments. and i get that. and so should you. most football fans take issues with the steelers for living in the past. yes six is great…but whats going on now. and now the ravens are on top until someone takes it from them. sorry if you have an issue with that. and if/when pitt gets number 7 i would expect steelernation to talk nonstop about it. thats how it goes

thecrabcakestate says:Jun 24, 2013 2:03 PM

As a Ravens fan, I’m getting tired of other Ravens fans talking smack and making us look bad. Lets be real, if Flacco consistently plays like he did in the postseason under Caldwell’s offense, then he’ll be ONE of the best. We may have the best RB tandem, I’ll agree with that. The WR core though is not even close to the best. Torrey smith will be very good. Jones is a great 3rd option, but losing boldin hurts bad. The defense I believe will be MUCH better with the additions, but lets not say its the best. I mean come on. There’s optimism and there’s stupidity. I like our new look in every way except WR but lets be classy fans. Not obnoxious.

Flacco is already one of the best. Do you actually remember what it was like for the Ravens before him? Do you remember how bad our Offensive line was before him? Do you remember our Playoff record before him? He has beaten the Patriots three times in the playoffs in Foxboro, the Ravens have only done that twice.

Flacco has excelled in the toughest division in football. He has done this with a very mediocre receiving corps.

When Flacco has played poorly it is generally because nobody is open, or they are dropping balls. Most of Flacco’s career the best receiver he had was Derrick Mason.

Stop with the…If Flacco does well he will be One of the Best. I have news for you, if you wait for the cue from the Patriot based media, he will never be elite – just like Eli. Flacco has done “the best ever” for 5 years, he needs to prove nothing.

thecrabcakestate | Jun 24, 2013, 2:03 PM EDT
As a Ravens fan, I’m getting tired of other Ravens fans talking smack and making us look bad. Lets be real, if Flacco consistently plays like he did in the postseason under Caldwell’s offense, then he’ll be ONE of the best. We may have the best RB tandem, I’ll agree with that. The WR core though is not even close to the best. Torrey smith will be very good. Jones is a great 3rd option, but losing boldin hurts bad. The defense I believe will be MUCH better with the additions, but lets not say its the best. I mean come on. There’s optimism and there’s stupidity. I like our new look in every way except WR but lets be classy fans. Not obnoxious.

Swagger 52 and scoobie s take note of the above post written by the smartest raven fan I have had the pleasure of reading. Well said its what I am trying to tell you scoobie. You are the champs and deserve some room to boast …but use some moderation it’s getting tired and old.winning doesn’t make you perfect…just champs for a year.

I never said the Ravens were perfect. I am definitely not gloating about Championships, because just as quickly as you win a Super Bowl, you can lose one. I don’t overhype the Ravens. However, all the dissing of Flacco is a joke. I never said he was Top 5 in the NFL. However, the rational for how Flacco is rated by the media needs to be corrected. ie. If he is SuperBowl MVP then he is 15th best. However, if he is not in Super Bowl then he is 70th. I actually have a bias to the AFC North. For example, I think Rothlesberger when healthy is much better than Brady or Matt Ryan. I actually would rather plan either of them than Andy Dalton.

Swagger I see you have some common sense. Flacco wouldn’t be getting dissed if the boasting by the raven trolls was reasonable. It’s a self inflicted diss. Flacco has progressed each year and had a remarkable run this year; however he will assume a bigger burden as a leader and the offense has to become the heart of the team which has always been the d. Big load for Joe to handle…if he doesn’t it will be a long season. Good to see another rational ravens fan.

if its just champs for a year, which i agree with, then why is all we hear out of pitt is we got 6. as i said previously, pitt deserves respect for 6 but what are they doing today. i guess steeler fans can brag about their accomplishments but no one else can?

Disagree…Flacco is not dissed because we exaggerate. Flacco is dissed because obnoxious fans from other teams know that it irritates fans like me – and they got nothing else.

Very few fans exaggerate on the merits of Flacco. Flacco isn’t as unproven as our offense has always been. We have had a pretty good running game, but our passing game has never been very good. However, that is not Flacco’s fault. Sure Bolden, can make a difficult catch when he is completely covered. However, what would Flacco do with a Wes Welker that is actually open for which to throw?

Flacco makes the offensive line better because he delivers the ball on time – like Brady or Manning. He has a better arm than either of them. He could improve his game if he coached a little more like they do on the field. However, he also hasn’t had the targets that they have had to be coached. Flacco is a winner, ever since the first game he started as the third string backup.

However, a Superbowl MVP, regarding his performance of 2013 is ranked behind so many other QBs on ESPN? Or Ray Lewis is most overrated Player on Ravens. That is just ridiculous. I am sick of the Boston based media and rude Boston fans who are the source of that junk. Obvioulsy Flacco is really annoying to them, otherwise he wouldn’t have those disrepsect problems.

Swagger I think you raven fans are a little thin skinned. You know what you got don’t listen and don’t doubt. Be like Lebron. Flacco has been good, but now he must be very good if he is going carry the team and lead?…the chemistry was great last year, but it has to be super with so many new people and so many old leaders gone.

thecrabcakestate says:Jun 24, 2013 5:56 PM

I wasn’t under any circumstance trying to diss Flacco. He is by far the best QB the Ravens have ever had. Hands down his post season play the last few years and many reg season games he’s been terrific. It’s just the 4-5 games a year he’s struggled that have me a little hesitant to proclaim he is on Rodgers, Brady, or Brees’ level.

I remember the old days of the Ravens well, thank you. I’ve had season tickets since they came to B more. And I have not missed more than a few games over that time. Meaningful or not. I am very excited and optimistic for the future. I think Flacco is better than Matt Ryan for sure. His reg season stats only look average because he plays FOR the win. Not the stats. He does exactly what is needed and excels. And I know Ryan’s stats look like he walks on water but I’d rather postseason wins. You can’t tell me Ryan’s team isn’t stacked either. I do respect him btw.

thecrabcakestate says:Jun 24, 2013 6:00 PM

Btw. nofoolnodrool. Thanks for the compliment. I just would like it if us Ravens fans could enjoy without being obnoxious. When reading those posts though, one must remember how bad the pats and steeler fans talk at us. I just prefer not to be obnoxious back.

And I think people missed that I do love flacco as our QB. Best the ravens have had by far. I’m excited for the future with him.

thecrabcakestate says:Jun 24, 2013 6:03 PM

Before people go nuts I don’t hate Matt Ryan. I don’t hate the falcons. I’m just saying everyone who loves to say Ryan is better should think about what they’d rather. A future MVP or a Lombardi. I know which I’d prefer.

jeffrow says:Jun 24, 2013 8:37 PM

all the teams mentioned above will soon learn that the new AFC champions are The Miami Dolphins! Watch out people here is a new sheriff in town. His name is Ryan Tannihill, and his deputy’s are Lamar Miller and Mike Wallace… That’s why Leach wants to come to Miami. Cause he knows this Team is on the rise and soon to be the 2013 super bowl champs, and he wants to be apart of it. He will sign with the Dolphins before the 30th of June. TRUST ME.